Property Rights

Re “Property Owners Have Rights, Too,” Column Right, July 3: Three cheers for the Supreme Court decision in the case of Dolan vs. City of Tigard. Although, as Michael Berger points out, the case involved land in Oregon, this decision, coupled with the decision in the Lucas case last year, should send a strong message to local California regulators. The Fifth Amendment right, “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation,” should be considered a guarantee.

I hope every planning commissioner, mayor and supervisor in the state reads Berger’s article. Perhaps they will think twice before extorting land as the price of a permit to improve property that they do not own.

TOM LEE

Rancho Santa Margarita